USS Woolsey (DD-77)

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USS Woolsey
History
United States
NameWoolsey
NamesakeMelancthon Taylor Woolsey
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down1 November 1917
Launched17 September 1918
Commissioned30 September 1918
FateSank following collision, 21 February 1921
General characteristics
Class and typeWickes-class destroyer
Displacement1,154 long tons (1,173 t)
Length314 ft 4+12 in (95.8 m)
Beam30 ft 11+14 in (9.4 m)
Draft9 ft 8+12 in (3.0 m)
Propulsion
Speed35.33 kn (40.66 mph; 65.43 km/h)
Complement131 officers and enlisted
Armament

The first USS Woolsey (DD-77) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I. She was named for Melancthon Taylor Woolsey.

History

Woolsey was

Frederick V. McNair, Jr.
in command.

After

armistice of 11 November, Woolsey left New York on her way back to Europe to join the American naval contingent assigned there for postwar duty. She arrived in Brest
, France on 20 December and reported for duty to the Commander, Naval Forces Europe.

For the next seven months, she performed various missions for the United States' naval establishment in Europe. Her primary mission consisted of runs between Brest and ports in southern England – notably Plymouth and Southampton – transporting passengers and mail. On 11 March 1919, she was one of the four American destroyers to escort George Washington into Brest when that ship arrived with President Woodrow Wilson embarked. After a four-month return to cross-channel runs between England and France, Woolsey was honored a second time when she was assigned duty as one of George Washington's escorts for President Wilson's return voyage to the U.S. from the Versailles peace conference. She departed Brest late in June 1919 in company with George Washington and arrived in Hampton Roads on 8 July.

Ten days later, Woolsey put to sea again bound for a new assignment – the

Coiba Island early on the morning of 26 February 1921, Woolsey was cut in half during a collision with the merchant ship SS Steel Inventor and sank.[1] There were 100 survivors, 17 injured, and 16 killed. Only one body was recovered. Survivors were rescued by her sister ship, Aaron Ward
.

References

Notes

  1. ^ "U.S.S. Woolsey Sunk By Collision; 1 Dead, 15 Missing" (PDF). The New York Times. 28 February 1921. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

External links